India to add 4,300 MW wind power capacity in 2016-17

Globally, India is at the fourth spot in terms of wind power installed capacity after China, the US and Germany. The Centre has set an ambitious target of achieving 175 GW capacity from renewable energy resources by 2022 and of this, 60 GW is seen to come from wind power.

Globally, India is at the fourth spot in terms of wind power installed capacity after China, the US and Germany. The Centre has set an ambitious target of achieving 175 GW capacity from renewable energy resources by 2022 and of this, 60 GW is seen to come from wind power. (Source: Reuters)

India’s wind power capacity is set to grow 30 per cent or 4,300 MW in 2016-17, helped by capacity addition in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, among others, Suzlon Group Chairman Tulsi Tanti said.

At present, the total wind power installed capacity in the country is around 27 GW, accounting for about 9 per cent of India’s total installed capacity.

“India is a very promising and demanding market. It is set to grow by 30 per cent annually. In 2016-17, the country will add about 4,300 MW of wind power,” Tanti told reporters here.

Suzlon has its rotor blades manufacturing facility in Bhuj and maintains sites for some of its clients.
Interacting with the media through video conferencing from Germany, Tanti said: “Most capacity will be added by Andhra Pradesh followed by Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. Some capacity will be added in Tamil Nadu.”

In a blog post in April, the founder of India’s leading wind turbine maker had termed 2015-16 as a “historic year” for the Indian renewable industry. Wind energy surpassed all its previous records with about 3,300 MW installation, a growth of 43 per cent. The previous highest installation was around 3,196 MW in 2011.

“India’s wind energy sector witnessed unprecedented acceleration last year, propelled by technology and conducive policy environment for renewables, by central and state governments. The growth was way higher than the industry estimates of 30-40 per cent,” he had said.

The industry has attracted an investment of over USD 3.16 billion and the cumulative installation of the sector is about 64 per cent of India’s total grid interactive renewable energy capacity. This is equivalent to reducing carbon emission by over 58.56 million tonnes per annum or planting over 1.76 billion trees, Tanti had noted.

Globally, India is at the fourth spot in terms of wind power installed capacity after China, the US and Germany. The Centre has set an ambitious target of achieving 175 GW capacity from renewable energy resources by 2022 and of this, 60 GW is seen to come from wind power.

Tanti sounded positive on Suzlon’s performance in 2016-17 during his video conferencing with reporters.
“We will achieve a market share of 40 per cent in 2016-17 and will generate cash from operations,” he added.

In 2015-16, the firm had a market share of 27 per cent in India, up from 19 per cent in 2014-15. Last fiscal, Suzlon commissioned 900 MW wind energy projects, of which 520 MW was commissioned in the January-March quarter alone.